When you are in school, part of what you are taught is how to follow instructions. In the big world of graduating from school, you are expected to be able to follow written instructions. Unfortunately many new, current and pro talent lack the ability to take the time to read instructions and submit whatever may be requested, the correct way. Below is a breakdown of some submissions received incorrectly for most agents:
- Submitting to an agent for representation is a large area when people fail to follow instructions right when they need to prove they can follow instructions the most. Remember in school when you received a piece of paper with silly instructions which most people followed, and very few read the whole paper first. Those that didn’t read the whole paper were drawing pictures, making X’s etc.. while those who followed the instructions sat and watched with a smile as their paper was turned over on their desk with their pencil sitting on top of it. The majority of agents required custom submissions for representation. Some have a form to fill out, others require you to email specific information, not only to send it but to have it labeled appropriately. In today’s world everyone should have knowledge to change the file names of their audio and video files on whatever device this information is stored. No one wants to see your profiles on Casting Networks, Actors Access or any voice over pay to play site. They want what they ask for. If you submit incorrectly there’s a huge chance you will be eliminated from the start.
- Submitting your information directly to your representative for a project is just as important as item #1 in this write up. Read everything before you submit. Note if there’s specific labeling requirements and or file format requirements for your attachments. Make sure you have a full screen if on camera so nothing is seen behind you except your screen. Dress per the role, wear shoes, do not have any other distracting noise or visuals in your submissions. The biggest issues we see are, naming the files incorrectly, forgetting to adjust your file, if it is requested to say, First, Last, Bullfrog, make sure to change the words First and Last to your actual first and last name, but keep the same amount of spacing that is shown in your audition. Do not add dashes, numbers, dates, or anything else that isn’t in the sample format for you to name your file(s).
- Do not send more than what is requested. If a project requests a file doing only one thing, that is all you send in. Do not add additional files, do not add anything that shouldn’t be submitted. Not following instructions can not only get your files not submitted, doing the same incorrect submissions time after time can get you removed from a roster, you should be experienced on a computer in this day and age.
- Submit ASAP. If you are submitting for a project that you received on a Monday and it is due on Thursday morning, get that project submitted ASAP, same day is preferred. Why? Because you are competing with other talent and the first talent who submit are reviewed and the favorites are marked down. If your name is Pat and you submit on Monday night, if you are a favorite, all auditions will be compared to your audition. You, Pat may book this, or you may not but they loved your work. Or you, Pat, may have done such a great job and submitted Monday that you get hired Monday night and all of the rest of the auditions sent to your agent never even get viewed by casting because the found their perfect talent right away.
- Never double submit. If your agent in Idaho asks for an audition and you send it in, then you receive the same audition from your agent in Missouri, you cannot submit to both agents at the same time if it is the same project. Even if you adjust your audition to be different for the 2nd agent, this is considered inappropriate. Casting should not have to deal with unprofessional talent trying so hard that they are trying to cheat the system. If they see your name once with one agent, they shouldn’t see your name with your sound or image matching from another agent. This is a great way to be removed from rosters.
If you are not very talented with computers, you should take courses. Local agencies including employment agencies frequently provide classes to teach skills for employment. If you are experienced in technology, follow the rules, make each submission the best you can make it and once you submit, forget about it, move forward.